Infection Control

The Center for Advanced Engineering & Research in Virginia received a $2 million research and development grant, all of which will directly support NanoTouch Materials' continued development of their NanoSeptic surfaces.

Because they are prone to rehospitalization, typically demand intensive hands-on care and are heavy users of antibiotics, advanced dementia residents in nursing homes commonly harbor dangerous strains of drug-resistant bacteria, according to new research published this week.

There are three key reasons why administrators of long-term care facilities should consider installing carpeting in their locations. All are related to the health and safety of their staff and the people using the facility.

Today's growing concerns surrounding infectious risks such as Ebola, EVD-68, and flu are excellent examples of why proactive horizontal approaches to infection prevention and implementing proven prevention practices on a daily basis are so important, because the reality is that long-term care facilities and the populations they serve are at inherently increased risk of infection.

It all started with a gathering. My family had lost a loved one. Some of us flew, others drove but whatever it took, we came together to celebrate the life of our loved one. Within 48 hours after the service, the texts started flying. Seven of us were ill, feeling like we were going to die. Two of us ended up at the hospital. The two who were seen at the hospital were positive for norovirus. The rest of us knew that we were right there with the others. Norovirus had claimed victory over our bodies.

For many years, healthcare institutions have been focused on different ways to decrease HAIs, as federal reimbursement initiatives loomed. So, what does this report card tell us? We've come a long way, baby, but there's still a ways to go.

The readmission scores of nursing homes will be posted to the Nursing Home Compare website beginning in 2017, and the VBP program will begin Oct. 1, 2018. For the first time, facilities will not just face financial penalties, they will be incentivized to reduce readmissions

More than 70% of consumers said overall cleanliness was a factor when choosing a long-term care facility, and many said they equated odor to a lack of cleanliness, according to a survey from Clorox Professional Products Company.

Healthcare professionals should consider a "bare below the elbows" approach of short-sleeved tops and foregoing a wristwatch, jewelry or ties, according to guidance released in late January from the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.

Healthcare workers frequently have Clostridium difficile spores on their hands after providing routine care for an infected person, and nursing assistants have by far the highest incidence of contamination, according to recently published research from France.